Bhopla aur dal ki kheer

  The pumpkin, as a whole has a varied medical properties.

• Pumpkin offers protection against heart diseases by containing antioxidants.

• The vegetable has a laxative action, being useful in case of dyspepsia and constipation. Fried pumpkin is healthy for those who suffer from heart diseases.

• Pumpkin juice is indicated for ulcer and high acidity. It has to be drunk three times a day, half an hour before meals.

• It is also useful in cases of insomnia, having sedative properties.

• In external use, pumpkin is recommended for treating burns, inflammations and abscesses.

Traditionally these are cooked with chana dal and expressed as 'kootu' or cooked in desi ghee and sugar as halwa.  Here i tried low-fat version of pumpkin as a dessert, i used red pumpkin and moong dal as a sweet combo and added grated jaggery in it.  This not only is nutritious  but also low caloried...So, diet freak guys do watch out.....

   You will need 1/4 cup of moong dal soaked in water, one cup of red pumpkin (deskinned and deseeded and chopped into large pieces), 1/4 cup milk, 100 gm grated jaggery, pinch of cardamon and ghee, 5-6 badam to (garnish)

   First take moong dal and bhopla, pressure cook for 2 whistles

After pressure cooking, mash the mixture using dal masher. Cook it in simmer flame

Add grated jaggery and wait till it melts, this is followed by adding milk and cardamon powder

Serve with ghee roasted badam pieces